Allergy study on nickel release from euro coins In response to concerns raised by the European Bureau for Consumer Protection about the allergic potential of the new coinage for the euro, due to be in circulation from 1999, a study has been carried out by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. The concern ste... In response to concerns raised by the European Bureau for Consumer Protection about the allergic potential of the new coinage for the euro, due to be in circulation from 1999, a study has been carried out by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. The concern stems from the potential allergic reaction to the nickel-copper and nickel-zinc-copper contained in the coins which may be released during occasional and occupational handling. Nickel and its alloys can cause skin sensitisation and allergic skin disorders and it is estimated that around 15% of Europeans are sensitive to such nickel. The study, carried out by the JRC's Institute for Reference Materials and Reference Measurements, compared the release of nickel of the two euro coins in question with the release from existing coins in wide circulation which contain nickel. The results of the study showed that the nickel release from the euro coins was well within the range of the nickel release from existing national coinage already in circulation. This comparative analysis therefore confirms the opinion of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Examination of the Toxicity and Ecotoxicity of Chemical Compounds operating for the European Commission, DG XXIV, who stated that "it appears unlikely that nickel released up to the same rate from the new European coins (as from coinage in use) would produce an incidence of increased disorder".
